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LAKE SCOTT BOASTS ONE OF USA TODAY’S 51 GREAT BEACHES

June 21, 2012Publication ranks best beaches in each of 50 states plus District of ColumbiaPRATT — To kick off the start of summer, USA TODAY asked local experts to select their favorite beach in each state and the District of Columbia. Scott State Park, north of Scott City, was tagged as having the “best” beach in Kansas.

“Lake Scott opens like a surprise package amidst the vast plains and farmland of western Kansas,” the publication stated in a May 29 article entitled “Just for Summer: 51 Great American Beaches.”

“Hidden in a wooded canyon of craggy cliffs, the park's spring-fed lake has a pleasant swimming beach with a playground and concession stand offering food, fishing supplies, canoes, and paddleboats. The 1,020-acre state park also has camping, hunting, nature trails, and historic sites.”

This is not the first national accolade for the area. In the 1980s, Scott was listed by National Geographic's Traveler magazine as one of 50 "must-see" state parks in the country.

The years that carved a canyon in this area and blessed it with natural springs and the consistently-flowing Ladder Creek also made possible construction of the 100-acre Scott State Fishing Lake, at the heart of the park. Because of these precious water sources, the lake level varies less than 10 inches in any given year, even in one of the most arid parts of the state. Located along the Western Vistas Historic Byway, the lake is a remarkable jewel in the crown of this area, which is surrounded by Ogallala rock formations rising 200 feet or more above the water. Some 150,000 anglers, campers, and nature lovers travel here each year to enjoy the scenery. Some come as far away as Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.